"Kiba!" Hinata cries.
He smirks, showing off sharp teeth. "Hey, Hinata," he replies. He looks over her shoulder and at Minato. His grin widens. "Lord Namikaze," he adds and Minato winces.
Minato doesn't deserve to be called such grand titles. Today has only reinforced for him he's far away from being the man who will one day be Hokage. Weakly, he asks, "Can you just call me Minato?"
The man, Kiba, nods. "Sure thing," he agrees with a slightly confused air. It quickly disappears, however, in favor of a smug smirk. "I have what you're looking for, by the way."
Minato goes rigid. "Where is he?" he demands.
"At my home," replies Kiba. He gestures at them both. "C'mon," he urges. "I'll take you to him."
Minato almost trips over his feet in his haste to catch up with the brunet (who he now suspects might be a clone. Surely he didn't leave Kakashi alone unsupervised at his house? That's the best way to either lose Kakashi or become the victim of his snooping). As Minato falls into step behind him, Hinata snags his sleeve. He looks at the kunoichi with a raised brow. "Yeah?" he says.
"We're going to let everyone know Kakashi has been located," she tells him. "We'll meet you at Kiba's in a little while."
"Sure," he agrees. Hinata turns away, Yamato trailing her, and Minato continues to follow Kiba in the direction of his home. It's thankfully not a long walk. Ten minutes at most. When they reach Kiba's home, he leads them straight around to the back garden.
As they slow, Minato hears voices. Kiba's, but also the high-pitch laughter of not one but two kids mingling with the yips of puppies. Minato can't believe it. Kakashi laughing without being tickled?
The future is unreal.
He eclipses Kiba and isn't surprised at all to hear him poof out of existence as he comes around to find the real Kiba, Kakashi, a little girl, and several dogs laying around in the grass. Minato exhales; for the first time in an hour he feels like he can really breathe. Kakashi looks better than okay, he looks happy.
Kiba's eyes find him and he stands up. "Mirai," he says as he wraps a hand around the arm of the girl. "Come inside with me. I want your help getting a snack for our guests," he tells her as she lifts her face to stare up at the brunet in confusion.
"Huh?" she murmurs with a blink of her eyes. She then catches sight of Minato and nods. "Okay!" she agrees.
Kiba turns his attention to Kakashi, who has ducked his head since catching sight of Minato. "We'll be just inside, alright?" he tells the boy, ruffling his hair as he does.
Minato hears himself gasp. Kakashi hates people doing that. He's tried to break fellow shinobis' fingers for it in the past. Surprisingly, though, Kakashi barely reacts. He just jerks away from the fingers and grumbles, "Sure."
Once they are inside, Minato can no longer contain himself. "Kakashi!" he exclaims before rushing to his student. The boy seems okay as he stares up warily and Minato ponders what to do. His twitching hands itch to hold Kakashi, to feel his weight and know he's well and truly safe.
Minato gives into the instinct and lightning-fast scoops the boy into his arms for a hug.
"Erk, Minato," Kakashi complains before he immediately begins to squirm.
Minato releases Kakashi from the short embrace but keeps him in his arms. Settling his student on his hip, he catches the boy's gaze and demands, "Are you okay?" Minato doesn't give Kakashi time to answer before he hisses, "Never do that again."
Kakashi huffs and pulls away as much as he can from Minato while still stuck in his arms. "Why do you care what I do anymore?"
He cringes at the words. It sure is a fair point. Hopefully, he can fix it though. "Kakashi, I'm sorry," he whispers. "I said some really mean things I didn't mean and while it's true I didn't ask to become a teacher, I do want to be yours." He jostles the boy, regaining his attention. "Can I still be your teacher?"
Surprisingly, Kakashi relaxes immediately. "Yes," he answers as he leans back in and practically nestles his head beneath his chin. Kakashi's small fingers trace the stitching of his vest as he mumbles, "I don't really hate you or want you to die either."
Minato is flooded with relief and warmth at the admission. "Thank you, Kakashi." Smiling down at the head of his student, he says, "I appreciate knowing that. I promise I'll be a better teacher to you. I won't ever tell you I hate you or want you to die again."
"He said that?" a voice somewhere behind them whispers (that was Choji, he thinks).
"Shh!" hushes one of the girls.
Minato does not let on he heard. Kakashi has noticed too and tenses in his hold. Minato turns slightly to hide it. He's not done talking to his student.
"Ignore them," he mutters into his student's ear.
Kakashi nods. Even so, he lowers his voice and replies, unusually bashful, "I… I won't say that stuff again either."
Minato is touched. "C'mere," he says before bringing Kakashi in for a long hug.
"Nooo," whines the boy, kicking his feet ineffectually.
"Now, now," he chides as he begins to sway with him.
Kakashi grumbles some more but turns limp in the end. When Minato feels ready, he lets go of Kakashi and places him back on his feet. Settling his now free hands on his hips, he brightly says, "So, wanna tell me what you've been up to Kakashi?"
-O-
The day turns around after that. They stay the afternoon at Kiba's. First, they have a snack and Kakashi introduces him to Mirai, Kiba, Akamaru, and the puppies. After the food is gone, Mirai convinces Kakashi to play with her, Akamaru, and the puppies in the garden. It's cute watching his student act his age and Minato has fun too conversing with his fellow shinobi.
Minato really likes them. He's sorry he'll never get the chance to know them better; to be a mentor and friend. He's glad Kakashi will be those things for them. It's clear from the attentive way they watch him and Mirai they hold varying levels of fondness for him.
This is a nice future. A future he's sometimes been worried he nor his student would get to experience. Minato feels oddly fortunate to have ended up here. It's been a stressful and confusing experience but so very inspiring too.
Maybe he's not a perfect teacher for Kakashi but he will be good enough it seems. Someday Kakashi is going to grow up and have friends and students and become the Hokage. It is more than he's hoped for Kakashi in the last year. It's something Minato is going to hang on to and remind Kakashi of during whatever challenges come their way in the coming years.
Perhaps their present is unkind, scary, and difficult but there is a bright future waiting for Kakashi. All his student has to do is hang on. All Minato has to do is help him get here.
He thinks of Naruto, his son, whose smile reminds him of Kushina. Minato won't see next week here but his son will. So will Kakashi. Possibly with Naruto at his side. The thought leaves Minato content.
If there's anyone he'd want to be here in his place with his son in the future it's Kakashi.
Minato turns a tender eye to the boy. He's in the midst of teaching a pair of wagging puppies to give their paws to him. Mirai is next to him, helping Kakashi with his task. He's adorable like this. Honestly, Kakashi is precious even when he's covered in the blood of the enemies.
Most would not agree with him. He understands now that's because he loves the little brat. When did the feeling take root? Minato can't pinpoint. He almost thinks it might have been years ago. Maybe when he met Kakashi as a baby. The son of his teacher's friend. Sakumo had put Kakashi in his arms and the baby had smiled at him. Jiraiya-Sensei teased at the time it must be a sign of things to come because Kakashi as a baby apparently had a tendency to cry when not in the arms of his parents.
He'd felt special at that moment. Minato hoped then to meet Kakashi again; to be someone to him. The Sandaime gave him that when he assigned Kakashi as his student. For a while after, Minato cursed himself for his wish. Kakashi is a lot.
The boy drives him crazy more often than he doesn't but Minato understands now that's just the way of little brothers. That's how Kakashi feels to him these days. He's not a burden or just his student, he's family. Kakashi needs to know how much he loves him and words just aren't enough as far as Minato's concerned. Minato will have to find a way to show this to him. He doesn't imagine it will be easy. The boy can be obtuse when it comes to matters like these. Minato won't give up, though.
He'll keep at it until Kakashi understands.
-O-
When Minato goes to check on Kakashi, he leaps back from the doorway upon seeing a tall figure hovering over his student. Instinctively, his fingers reach for a kunai, but then the form's head tilts slightly and he breathes out in shock and wonder. He's wearing a mask just like Kakashi does. His hair is gray just like Kakashi's. His eyes look the same as his student's do too.
"Kakashi?" he whispers.
The man dips his chin and returns his stare to Minato's student. Little Kakashi sleeps almost tucked entirely beneath the covers of his futon. An afternoon playing with Mirai and the puppies wore him out better than a day of training ever has. He didn't need Minato to prod him into going to bed at all after dinner.
"I hated it when people would say I was cute," the man muses in a timber that sounds so strange to Minato. That's what he'll sound like when he's grown? He doesn't sound a thing like Sakumo.
Minato takes a tentative step into the bedroom. "But?" he prompts in a whisper.
The other shinobi chuckles. "The brat is utterly adorable." Kakashi turns until he faces Minato fully. He stands, slouched, with his hands resting in the pockets of his pants.
Minato can't help but grin. "Yeah," he agrees. "It makes it hard to stay mad at him."
"I'm not staying long," says the man abruptly, eyes turning toward the bedroom's open window.
He holds back a sigh. "I figured," he admits. Why would he have snuck in like this otherwise? Minato wonders if this adult Kakashi even wanted to see him. He curls his fingers into loose fists. "Can I still ask a few things?" he pleads.
The shinobi doesn't immediately answer. Instead, his eyes move between the sleeping boy and Minato. Finally, he says, "Why don't we step into the other room, Sensei?"
Minato can't help but gasp. "You call me teacher!"
Clear confusion muddles the man's gaze. "You were," he replies. "Are," he amends with a quick glance at Minato's student.
He snorts as he steps back and out into the other room; allowing Kakashi passage. "Tell that to six-year-old you," he grumbles as Kakashi comes out, stepping into the light of the living area. "I'm lucky if he calls me by my name and not an insult some days."
Kakashi blinks down at him. "I was really that bad, huh?"
"You don't remember?" replies Minato, scrunching his face in disbelief.
The man exhales. "Come on," he urges, gesturing for Minato to follow him to the room's sofa. He trails his grown student and sits down on the end opposite Kakashi.
After they settle in their spots, Minato raises a brow at Kakashi. "So?"
Kakashi refuses to look at Minato. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I had business in Suna that I couldn't abandon halfway through."
Minato feels relief at his words. A little part of him had been worrying Kakashi didn't want to see him these past few days. "It's okay," he assures with a smile. "We were well cared for by your students and friends."
The man lifts his gaze and returns his smile. "I'm glad."
He relaxes further but then a question comes to mind and he tenses anew. "Kakashi?" he says.
The other man leans back, one arm coming to rest on the top of the sofa. "Yes, Minato-Sensei?"
He hesitates. Will Kakashi even answer? Minato has to try. "Do things get easier?" he asks.
Kakashi sighs and turns his gaze to the ceiling. "Hm. That's a tricky one…"
"Is it?" he presses, leaning closer in hopes that he might be able to read something from his body language even if he won't give a verbal answer.
Kakashi puts his head in one of his hands and meets Minato's gaze. "Let me put it this way, we grow closer, but life… It grows more complicated for us both."
He blinks and leans back. "Oh," he replies. Then Minato nods. "I guess that makes sense." He laughs. "You don't get to be Hokage without overcoming some huge challenges."
"No, you don't," agrees Kakashi, eyes crinkling in amusement.
Now more at ease, Minato asks, "You're Naruto's teacher, right?"
"The knucklehead let it slip, did he?" says Kakashi.
Minato leans away. "He didn't mean to," he mumbles.
Kakashi notices his discomfort and puts up a placating hand. "I know," he reassures. "Really I'm very fond of him."
"I see," replies Minato, squinting at the other man. So Kakashi has learned how to joke since he was a little boy. That's a relief. "I'm glad. Thank you for being his teacher." Minato swallows and admits, "I… I've gotten the impression I wasn't around for most of his life."
"That's not your fault," Kakashi tells him in a hurry.
"I understand," he says; still Minato frowns. "I'm still sorry. He seems… He reminds me of Kushina," he mumbles, side-eyeing Kakashi.
The man snorts. "I see through you, Minato-Sensei," he warns him.
Minato shrugs before offering a broad grin to Kakashi. "Should have expected as much. You're a genius and all."
Kakashi falls quiet. Minato resists the urge to squirm as his student stares at him. Finally, the man whispers, "It's been really good to see you again."
Minato blushes, pleased. "I'm happy to meet you too!" he replies eagerly. Bouncing in his spot, he teases, "You sure grow up taller than I expected."
Kakashi's soft expression turns a touch petulant. "I'm not that small," he complains.
He smirks. "Oh but you are," he insists. "If I didn't know you actually like vegetables I'd be worried you aren't eating any at all."
"Hmph," grumbles Kakashi, crossing his arms.
Minato rolls his eyes at the reaction. "Hey, now that you're back does that mean we'll be returning to our time tomorrow?"
Kakashi dips his chin in reply. "Ah, so you've figured out why this has taken so long?"
"Sakura mentioned waiting for someone's return from Suna," admits Minato. "I see now she meant you." He considers Kakashi. The man's hunched slightly in on himself. Minato thinks he feels a bit embarrassed. Minato reaches over and pats his knee. "It's fine. I think it was sweet of them to put off sending us back until you came home."
"You're not upset?" mutters Kakashi. "I remember being rather frustrated during this whole incident as a kid. That can't have been easy to deal with."
He shrugs. "You really haven't been any worse than usual," he answers.
Kakashi winces. "Yeah, sorry about how bratty I was…"
He shakes his head. Minato doesn't need any apology. Kids whether they are prodigies or not misbehave sometimes. "You're cute. It more than makes up for it," he jokes.
He is rewarded with an unimpressed look.
Minato snickers. "So will you say goodbye to us tomorrow with everyone?"
"If you think your student won't mind," replies Kakashi.
He hums. Little Kakashi will probably either hate seeing grown Kakashi or love it. "Did you like seeing you when you were little?" he inquires.
"Uh," says Kakashi. "I'm not really sure anymore," he admits. "I was six. That's over twenty years ago for me now."
Minato absorbs this. He guesses that's a good point. Most of Minato's memories from six are pretty hazy and he's only seventeen. "Let's take the chance," he decides. "If it takes a bad turn you can bustle away on Hokage business, okay?"
"Sure," agrees Kakashi with a nod of his head. He then stands. "Have a good night, Minato."
Minato huffs before springing to his feet and wrapping himself around the wiry man. "Night, Kakashi. Thanks for stopping by."
Kakashi, who had gone still at his embrace, melts. "I wish I could stay longer, Sensei," he whispers before hugging him back.
Minato squeezes a bit harder for a second and then lets him go. "We'll have a little time tomorrow," he assures the man. "Let me walk you to the door." He smirks. "It's good manners for guests to come and go through it, you know?"
The man ducks his head. "Erh, right…"
In the next (and last) chapter Kakashi and Minato will be going back to their time. Thoughts on that?
Thank you for reading!